Should dogs eat out of ceramic bowls

Bowl Vs. Plate: What Should Cats Eat From?

When it comes to our beloved furry feline friends, we would like to offer them the best and most comfortable life we possibly can. From the quality of food to what we feed them out of. Should your cat eat out of a bowl or a dish? And why?

It is best if you use wide, shallow bowls to feed your cat. This is because of something called whisker stress. Because cats whiskers are sensitive, they get a tiny shock every time their whiskers touch something. It is annoying and painful if their whiskers touch the side of their bowls while eating.

Continue reading as we discuss choosing the perfect platform for your cat to eat out of and why these platforms will work the best!

What Is Best: Bowl Or Plate?

Cats have a reputation for being picky about what they eat. But when you consider what they eat in the wild, it is easy to see that how you feed your cat is just as big of a factor as what youre feeding them.

A cats whiskers help them sense the width of holes, doorways, and every other opening. Cats are always able to tell whether they can squeeze through an opening just by using their whiskers. This also means that when you feed your cat out of a deep bowl with steep or straight sides, his whiskers feel everything.

Even if it doesnt pain your kitty, the sensations might be distracting from the food. Therefore, it is best to switch from a deep bowl to an almost flat or very shallow dish that wont contact the whiskers.

Tips For Choosing The Correct Bowl

When it comes to choosing the correct bowl to use to feed your cat, there are numerous things you should consider. We conducted a list that will ensure that you make the correct and educated choice!

• Avoid Any Plastic Cat Food Bowls

Weve all seen a wethered and used and old plastic bowls. It is full of creases and scratches. So why not use these plastic bowls to feed our cat? Absolutely not!

It is important to use a bowl that is non-porous, which means that plastic bowls are not a good fit for cats.

Bacteria and oil build up in the plastic materials scratches. Plastic is subject to micro-abrasions that will allow bacteria to grow. This bacteria can withstand even the heat and conditions of a dishwasher, and repeated contact with these surfaces can cause cat acne, which appears in the form of black dots on your cats chin.

Instead, choose bowls made of ceramic or stainless steel, as it is much more hygienic and not as easily withered down.

• Consider The Depth Of Cat Bowls

Cats prefer dishes and bowls that are shallow and wide. When a cat sticks their faces too far into bowls to eat, they can experience discomfort because of their whiskers. Some cats are extremely sensitive to the feel of the dish around their little whiskers. You will see if this is the case if your cat tries to take his food out of his bowl by using his paws.

• Think About The Location Of Your Food Bowls

It would be beneficial to think about where you place your furry friends food bowl. Never place your cats food bowl near his litter box. Instead, locate the food bowls in private areas of the house, so you will not stress your kitty when they eat.

If you own more than one cat, never place their bowls too close together, as cats are solitary hunters and will get irritated when another cat gets too close to them.

• Practice Good Bowl Hygiene

Imagine having to eat out of a dirty plate; it never sounds appetizing, so chances are, your cat will not like it either!

Wash your cats dishes daily with soap and water. Dry cat food tends to be oily, so bacteria can collect and give off an unpleasant smell. If you feed your cat wet food, be sure to wash the bowls after each use.

• Some Cats Require Different Food Bowls

If you own a flat-faced kitty, like a Persian, it could get a bit tricky if you do not do your research. You will have to purchase specialty dishes that have some elevation with a slight angle so that your flat-faced kitty has an easier time eating out of their bowl.

Signs Your Cat Is Struggling With Its Bowl

If your cat is struggling to eat food out of its bowl, there will be several symptoms that can range from mild to severe. The best way to notice these symptoms would be to watch your cat while they are eating quietly without disturbing them.

Some of the common symptoms include:

1. Pulling food out of their bowl and onto the floor.
2. They quickly eat out the middle of their food, stop eating when the food is bunched up in the corners, and cry at you for more food.
3. Knocking over their food bowl and then eating.
4. Knocking their food out of their bowl.
5. Pawing at their food.
6. Nudging their bowl around.
7. Not eating.
8. Becoming aggressive towards other cats or even humans during mealtimes.

All these symptoms mean that your cat is struggling with its bowl and might even be the first symptoms of whisker fatigue. What is whisker fatigue, and how can you help your poor kitty to find the perfect bowl?

Whisker Fatigue And How To Prevent It

In basic terms, whisker fatigue can be described as an over-stimulation of the sensory system of the whiskers. Whisker fatigue happens when the whiskers are touched too much, even if its just the basic brushing against food and water dishes.

If a cats brain gets an onslaught of sensory messages transmitted to their brain, it can cause an overload of stimulation and make them feel stressed or agitated. Some are obviously better than others, with so many different cat bowls on the market for whisker fatigue. But the question is, what makes a whisker-friendly cat bowl?

The first essential feature you should look for when reviewing different products would be the shape and size of the bowl. To make a cat bowl whisker-friendly, it needs to be both shallow and wide.

This type of bowl allows room for your cats whiskers not to touch the edge of the bowl when eating or drinking. This feature is ultimately the key to a bowl being whisker-friendly.

Next is the material of your bowl. There are several types of cat bowls available, such as ceramic, metal, and plastic. Although plastic bowls are much cheaper and easier to clean, metal and ceramic bowls are best as they are more resistant to scratches.

Whatever material you end up choosing, you should always make sure it is safe for cats. It is also advised that the material is easy to clean, and if it can go in the dishwasher, it would be even better! This is because dishwashers can wash at a much higher temperature, which will maximize the killing of bacteria and germs.

Lastly, an anti-skid design would help to keep food and water in your cats bowl. Having an anti-skid design is crucial as this stops the bowl from being nudged around the floor, which could lead to food and water spills. Heavy bowls or rubber bases are excellent for this.

It is also important to note that it doesnt matter if your cats whiskers arent sensitive at all or if it already is, it is never too late to do your research and ensure that you provide your kitty with the best possible bowl.

Do Cats Prefer Bowls Or Plates?

Although it is clear that a bowl is much better comfort-wise and health-wise for cats, you may similarly ask, is it better for cats to eat from an elevated bowl, and do they prefer bowls to plates if it is more comfortable?

Cats in general, especially more flat-faced breeds, will also benefit if you present their food from a more elevated bowl. Raised feeders are more often used for dogs prone to bloat, but they can also be great and beneficial to your cat!

When cats are presented with food on floor level and raised level, they are always prone to go for the food on a raised level.

Secondly, there is no use in giving your cats food out of the perfect bowls if you give them food out of a shared bowl. Many pet owners have a shared bowl for food for their cats, and when their cats show behavioral problems, they tend to blame the type of bowl.

At the end of the day, you should never let your cats share food bowls, but instead, give each cat their bowl. In general, cats prefer a stainless steel bowl, and it is always the best choice you could make. Stainless steel is perfect, as it is unbreakable, durable, is dishwasher safe, and doesnt harbor any odors.

For these reasons, it is obvious that these types of bowls are popular choices for cat owners. It is good to note that metal bowls are usually made from stainless steel, making them high quality, safe, easy to clean, and comfortable to drink from!

Most cat bowls on the market are produced from stainless steel, so finding the best one for your beloved kitty shouldnt be a problem!

Conclusion

When we become the parents of pets, especially as cat lovers, all we want is the best for our furry children. We always tend to research the best quality cat food, but we rarely research the best ways to serve them! Our cats use their bowls multiple times a day, every single day, making your kittys bowl one of the single most important products that you will buy for your babies.

By not choosing the correct bowl, you could negatively impact your fur babys health and bring discomfort to each one of its meals. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to you and your kitty that you carefully select the right type!

Tons of bowls available will eliminate whisker fatigue and sensitivity. Ensure that you know of all the tips and tricks for choosing the correct bowl for your cat. You can talk to your vet or pet shop workers to help you choose the best bowl possible for your beloved cat!

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Ceramic Dog Bowls vs. Stainless Steel Dog Bowls: Which to Choose?

Dog bowls come in a wide variety of materials, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. Most commonly, they come in plastic, glass, ceramic, and stainless-steel forms. Unless you have a young puppy, plastic bowls should be avoided, as dogs will chew these up in a matter of minutes and potentially ingest bits of plastic, which can cause a host of health problems, both dental and digestive. Glass can break easily due to an enthusiastic pooch and should be kept for older, calmer dogs.

That leaves two optionsceramic dog bowls and stainless steel dog bowls, as the most common and well-tested choices. But which is the right option for your dog? We put both these options to the test to find out which material really reigns supreme.

Ceramic Dog Bowls

Ceramic dog bowls are widely available, come in a wide variety of sizes and styles, and are often beautifully designed and aesthetically pleasing. These bowls are usually glazed on the outside, making them easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Ceramic bowls are heavy, so are less likely to be scraped along the floor while your dog is feeding, and your pooch will likely be unable to carry them away to the far reaches of your house or yard.

Before buying a ceramic dog bowl, make sure that it is labeled as food safe or lead-free, as some of the glazes used to seal these bowls can contain lead and other potentially harmful ingredients. Ceramic bowls can easily chip or break when dropped, and these small cracks and chips can collect harmful bacteria, even after thoroughly washing them. These cracks can also create sharp edges and shards, which could hurt your pooch while feeding.

Ceramic bowls are also comparatively expensive, especially the bowls with complicated patterns and designs.

• Widely available
• Come in a wide variety of colors and styles
• Customizable
• Dishwasher safe
• Heat-resistant
• Wont move while feeding

• Can chip and break easily
• Cracks and chips can harbor harmful bacteria
• May end up with sharp edges
• Expensive

Stainless-Steel Dog Bowls

Stainless steelis the go-to choice for dog bowls. They are by far the most durable and widely available and are easy to clean and dishwasher safe. They also will not rust, wont easily scratch or dent, and are resistant to high temperatures. Stainless-steel dog bowls will survive a fall off a countertop and are lightweight too. They are also affordable, as being so widely used drives prices down. Because stainless steel does not scratch or crack easily, it is the most hygienic option, as bacteria cannot easily survive on the surface. Thorough cleaning will remove any potentially harmful bacteria quickly and easily.

Make sure you buy a stainless-steel bowl with a non-slip rim to prevent the bowl from sliding across the floor while feeding, causing spillage! Also, be sure to buy food-grade stainless-steel bowls that are specifically made for pets. Some stainless steel bowls may contain lead or other metal toxins. While stainless-steel bowls arent that much to look at and dont come in the variety of colors and designs that ceramic bowls do, they are durable and long-lasting and have stood the test of time among dog owners.

• Durable
• Wont crack or scratch easily
• Resistant to high temperatures
• Lightweight
• Easy to clean
• Hygienic

• May slide around without a non-slip rim
• Do not come in a variety of colors or designs

Other Considerations

While the construction material is arguably the most important factor to take into consideration, the style of bowl that you purchase is important too. Dogs with long muzzles and ears will appreciate a deeper bowl, while dogs with flat faces like Pugs will do well with shallow bowls. Large dogs like Great Danes will benefit from raised or elevated bowls. These consist of a raised platform with a bowl embedded inside, and they are believed to help prevent gastrointestinal issues and are more comfortable for these giant breeds.

If you have a dog that tends to gobble up food in seconds, you may consider purchasing a slow-feed bowl. These bowls contain raised ridges inside the bowl to force your dog to take smaller bites of food at a time and thus eat slower.

Conclusion

In conclusion, stainless-steel dog bowls offer the best durability, are the most hygienic, and are the most cost-effective option for a bowl for your dog. They are also lightweight and wont rust, and even the biggest dog is unlikely to break a stainless-steel bowl.

That being said if you own a small, calm, or older dog, a ceramic dog bowl still has benefits, as well as pleasing aesthetics. Lapdogs are unlikely to break these bowls, and they are perfectly fine if kept clean.

Featured Image Credit: Jan Dix, Shutterstock